Electeio time alarm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. JACOBI.

ELECTRIC TIME ALARM.

No, 478,865. Patented July 12, 1892.

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(No Model.)

J J ACOBI.

ELEGTRIG TIME ALARM.

Patented July 12,1892.

INVENTUR WITNESSES;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEErc-E.

JOHN JAOOBI, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

ELECTRIC TIME-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,865, dated July 12,1892. Application filed November 17, 1891. Serial No. 412,122. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JACOBI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Circuit-Closers, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a full, clear, and accurate description.

My invention relates to that class of instruments in which one or bothhands of a clock are utilized for effecting the closure of an electriccircuit, causing such operation to be performed automatically and atfixed intervals of time.

The instrument embodying my invention is designed for use particularlyat the termini of street-railways as a car-starterthat is to say, forautomatically working a signal indicating the periods at which the carsare to be started; but it is also adapted to other general uses as acircuit-closer.

The novel features of my instrument and the advantage arising therefromare hereinafter fully described, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure I represents a face View with thecontact-points in a circular plan e. Fig. II represents a partial sideview and partial crosssection. Fig. III represents a detail side view ofthe contact-points. Fig. IV represents an end view of the hour-hand.Fig. V represents a like view of the minute-hand. Fig. VI represents aface view with the contactpoints in a spiral plane. Fig. VII representsa side view of a modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

The letter A indicates the face of a clock, and B the center staffthereof geared with clock-movement in the usual way.

O indicates the minute-hand, and D the hour-hand, both mounted on thecenter staff B where it projects through the clock-face.

Upon the cloclcface A is a row or series of adjustable contact-points2', which may extend in the circular plane shown in Fig. I or inthespiral plane shown in Fig. VI around the center staff B, and each ofwhich consists of a metallic flap hinged radially in relation to theaxis of the staff, so as to be capable of swinging in a directionparallel to said plane of the series from a lower to a raised positionapproximately at a right angle to the clockface, or vice versa. Thelocation of said radially-hinged flaps i is at fixed intervals, eachrepresenting a certain predetermined limit of time, which may be fiveminutes, asin the example shown in Fig. I, and for convenience ofascertaining the time so represented the clock-face A is usually markedwith suitable figures opposite the flaps. The immediate support for thehinged flaps '1; is a metallic rail F, which is shaped to conform withthe desired circular or spiral plane and properly secured to theclock-face A, this rail forming a means common to the series of flapsfor connecting them with one pole of a battery. In the example shown inFig. I the supportingrail F is ring-shaped, and at a point within it onthe clock-face is a second or auxiliary rail G, also ring-shaped,forming a means to connect the clock-hand O (being the minute-hand) withthe other pole of the battery, as presently explained.

At a point opposite the auxiliary-rail G, on the hand D, is a contact D,in form of a roller, which permanently engages said rail, while at apoint opposite the flap-supporting rail F, on the hand O, is mounted acontact 0, in form of a spring, which in practice engages those of theseries of flaps "I; which are in raised position, this spring-contactbeing properly graduated for that purpose, and in order to retain theflaps in a raised or operative position each is provided with a stop 0,which may consist of a lug on the supporting-rail F, as more clearlyshown in Fig. III, or an offset upon the flaps, as shown in Fig. VII,the effect of the" stops being to resist a displacement of the raisedflaps by the spring-contact O in the motion thereof together with theclock-hand.

IVhen the instrument is applied to use, the rails F G are suitably wiredto the respective poles of a battery and the desired flaps i are set toa raised position, leaving the remainder thereof in a lower position,reference being had to the times at which the circuit is to beclosed-as, for example, when the circuit is to be closed at intervals offive minutes, the flaps are raised opposite the figures 5, 10, 15, andso on. Now in the motion of the hand O its spring-contact C is broughtinto engagement with each of the raised flaps 2' and by this means thecircuit is closed through the clock-hands C D, one of the flaps, and thetwo rails F G, so that if a signal or other apparatus is properlyarranged in such circuit it may be automatically operated at desiredintervals of time. If the auxiliary-rail G is omitted, the connectionfrom the battery may be with the center stafi B to the properhand.

By the arrangement of the series of flaps i in a spiral plane, as shownin Fig. VII, a comparatively large and indefinite n umber thereof may beemployed, thereby increasing the capacity of the instrument, and for thepurpose of adapting the spring-contact O thereto the clock-hand O has aslot 0 fitted on the center staff B, and also a roller C or othersuitable device engaging a gnideway, formed in this example by one edgeof a spiral groove F, containing the flap-supporting rail, so that saidhand is capable of sliding longitudinally on the staff, while by theaction of said guideway upon the hand the spring-contact isantomatically adjusted in relation'to the spiral plane of the flaps, thehand being in practice re-adj usted to an inner position when saidcontact has traversed the plane of the flaps. It will be seen that byforming the contactpoints of the hinged flaps they possess the advantageof permanent, fixture to the instrument, so as to obviate aloss ormisplacement thereof while affording a maximum ease and facility ofadjustment.

If desired, a fixed contact point or points 8 may be applied to theclock-face for engaging with a contact C as a roller, of the hands 0, soas to close a circuit in each revolution of said hand, as once in eachhour.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A circuit-closer in which are combined the clock, radially-hingedmetallic flaps at fixed intervals around the center stafi of the clock,a stop to each of said flaps for retaining it in raised or operativeposition, a clock-hand having the spring-contact to engage those of theseries of flaps which are in operative position, and a means forconnecting the flaps and clock-hand, respectively, with either pole of abattery, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. A circuit-closer in which are combined a clock, radially-hingedmetallic fiaps at fixed intervals around the center stafi of the clock,a metallic rail on the clock-face supporting said flaps to connect theseries thereof with one pole of a battery, a stop to each of the flapsfor retaining it in raised or operative position, a clock-hand havingthe spring-contact to engage those of the flaps which are in operativeposition, and a means for connecting said clock-hand With the other poleof the battery, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand this 16th day of July, 1891.

. JOHN J AOOBI.

Witnesses:

LoUIs W. FROST, CHARLES G. Con.

